This refers to the editorial "Emerging alternatives" (December 9). The result of the Assembly polls in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh could prove to be a turning point in Indian politics. The traditional vote-catching politics of poverty, identity, freebies, populist schemes, discriminatory entitlement, secularism and so on, have failed to win voters who crossed all dividing lines in voting for the party that had a good record on development and governance fronts. The substantial assertive young voters in the 18-30 age group don't want doles, but opportunities that make them stand on their own feet. The wave of anger against the Congress is not going to subside in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and the party can safely be written off. Enthused by the stunning public support in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party could become a strong contestant in the general elections. This makes the Bharatiya Janata Party's task more difficult, and calls for a credible plan of beating down inflation, speedy growth, all-round development and good governance.
M C Joshi Lucknow
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